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Finance

It is often very difficult to find clear information about how the Government has, or intends to spend money. Particularly at election time, many grand and expensive promises are made, yet frequently the money is not ultimately spent, or the opposite, many commitments turn out to be much more expensive than claimed. The Greens are determined to hold the Government to account and are working to ensure that budget information is reported in a way that makes it simple for everybody to find detailed information about what has been promised and how much has been spent.

In addition the Greens will continue to scrutinise the Department of Finance and Deregulation's management of the Australian Government’s non-defence domestic property portfolio and key asset sales.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, part way through the Senate inquiry into the minerals resource rent tax, spoke to reporters in Canberra today, calling for the mining tax to be extended to gold and uranium.
The anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake, the Greens' move for a Senate inquiry into the draft Murray Darling Basin plan, equal marriage, nuclear submarines, and the Labor leadership saga were also discussed.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, part way through the Senate inquiry into the minerals resource rent tax, spoke to reporters in Canberra today, calling for the mining tax to be extended to gold and uranium.

The anniversary of the Christchurch earthquake, the Greens' move for a Senate inquiry into the draft Murray Darling Basin plan, equal marriage, nuclear submarines, and the Labor leadership saga were also discussed.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown, speaking to reporters in Canberra today, outlined the Greens' moves to seek better funding for dental care.
Senator Brown also called for the Syrian embassy in Canberra to be closed as it no longer represents the people of Syria. Other topics included the need for Senator Brandis to recuse himself from the Senate privileges committee; debate on the mining tax; government advertising; and Point Henry.

Senator Brown also called for the Syrian embassy in Canberra to be closed as it no longer represents the people of Syria. Other topics included the need for Senator Brandis to recuse himself from the Senate privileges committee; debate on the mining tax; government advertising; and Point Henry.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown spoke about the Greens proposal for a fairer superannuation system; the criticism of Prime Minister Gillard, including the sexism inherent in the media's approach; the Greens are getting on with a nation-building agenda -- including making high-speed rail an issue in the lead-up to the next election.

Australian Greens Leader Senator Bob Brown spoke about the Greens proposal for a fairer superannuation system; the criticism of Prime Minister Gillard, including the sexism inherent in the media's approach; the Greens are getting on with a nation-building agenda -- including making high-speed rail an issue in the lead-up to the next election.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today released the Greens’ proposal to be put to the Superannuation Roundtable recently established by the Government after talks with the Greens.“The Greens had detailed discussions with the Government about the revenue going to superannuation as part of the mining tax package, and the need to review superannuation tax concessions. We need to make the system fairer,” Senator Brown said in Canberra.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today released the Greens’ proposal to be put to the Superannuation Roundtable recently established by the Government after talks with the Greens.

“The Greens had detailed discussions with the Government about the revenue going to superannuation as part of the mining tax package, and the need to review superannuation tax concessions. We need to make the system fairer,” Senator Brown said in Canberra.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today supported calls from the ACTU and ACOSS for changes to the $30 billion worth of superannuation tax concessions that favour top earners before the Gillard Government’s mining tax package is debated in the Senate.“The Government has linked the mining tax to a rise in the superannuation guarantee to 12% from 9%. We are supportive of the rise but believe significant changes need to be made to taxation arrangements to make the system fairer and more equitable,” Senator Brown said.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today supported calls from the ACTU and ACOSS for changes to the $30 billion worth of superannuation tax concessions that favour top earners before the Gillard Government’s mining tax package is debated in the Senate.

“The Government has linked the mining tax to a rise in the superannuation guarantee to 12% from 9%. We are supportive of the rise but believe significant changes need to be made to taxation arrangements to make the system fairer and more equitable,” Senator Brown said.

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today urged the big banks to pass through the full Reserve Bank rate cut to customers.
"Australia's banking sector, the strongest in the world, has been generously supported by the government and does not need more assistance - granted by the banks to the banks at the expense of customers, or tax cuts at the expense of public services," Senator Brown said in Launceston.
"The big four banks - after reporting a combined annual net profit of more than $25 billion this year - should do more to support small business, whether it is access to capital or fairer borrowing costs, or paying their fair share."
"The big four banks alone would get a windfall of more than $4 billion over the next decade from the proposed corporate tax cut that the government will try to pass through the Parliament next year. The Greens will seek to amend that."

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown today urged the big banks to pass through the full Reserve Bank rate cut to customers.

"Australia's banking sector, the strongest in the world, has been generously supported by the government and does not need more assistance - granted by the banks to the banks at the expense of customers, or tax cuts at the expense of public services," Senator Brown said in Launceston.

"The big four banks - after reporting a combined annual net profit of more than $25 billion this year - should do more to support small business, whether it is access to capital or fairer borrowing costs, or paying their fair share."

"The big four banks alone would get a windfall of more than $4 billion over the next decade from the proposed corporate tax cut that the government will try to pass through the Parliament next year. The Greens will seek to amend that."

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown responds to the Gillard Government's budget update and outlines the Greens' more responsible approach. Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Senator Brown also answered questions about the Gold Pass, the Murray Darling Basin plan and immigration.

"The Gillard Government's plan to balance the books by imposing a higher ‘efficiency dividend', a tired euphemism for public sector cuts, is short-sighted and driven by political constraints," Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said today. "The push by both major parties to cling to a wafer-thin political surplus while advocating public sector job losses and cuts to services is contrary to reasonable, forward-thinking economic advice," Senator Brown said in Canberra, responding to the Government's budget update."The budget can be balanced over the cycle without cutting jobs or worthwhile programmes." "Assisted by costings provided by the Treasury, the Greens have identified $9 billion in fossil fuel subsidies that could be redirected towards jobs and services - a far better option than cutting $1 billion from education. Savings in education would be better redirected to areas of need including science and Asian languages." "Almost doubling university HECS fees for maths and science students is a mistake. Science and innovation is the key to our nation's economic prosperity and we should be doing all we can to increase participation in science learning. The $400 million saving is a false economy if it means the best and the brightest of our kids don't make the move into maths and science at university." "If the global economy deteriorates further there could be a need for a stimulus package. The major parties need to take responsibility for the impact that fiscal policy, including their pursuit of a political surplus, has on the economy." "We support an end to the tax breaks for corporate executives - an unnecessary charge on the public purse. We also support the deferral of the reduction in interest withholding tax paid by financial institutions - achieved by the Greens as part of the mining tax negotiations." "The Greens have worked hard to protect the cultural institutions. They are exempt from the latest ‘efficiency dividend', but they still need relief from the previous round. The Government can do better."